Device for conducting air in order to provide air conditioning for a body support device

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a device ( 100 ) for conducting air in order to provide air conditioning for a body support device, particularly one in a vehicle seat. According to the invention, the device ( 100 ) is also provided with at least one adjustment device ( 7 ) for adjusting at least one contact area ( 20 ) of the body support device that comes into contact with a user.

The present invention relates to a device for guiding air according tothe preamble of claim 1. Devices according to the class are used, e.g.,for air conditioning vehicle seats.

STATE OF THE ART

Air-conditioning devices for vehicle seats are known. Pneumatic seatadjusters for lumbar support and massage systems for seats are alsoknown. Integrating both systems into a seat is problematic. If a seatadjuster is positioned under a seat cushion, large volumes must be movedin order to notice an effect at the seat surface. This leads tooverdimensioned pumps and low adjustment speeds. Conversely, theair-conditioning function is impaired when the adjustment elements arepositioned on the sitting surface.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

One object of the invention is a device with the features of claim 1.This has the advantage that through the integration of a seat adjusterinto an air-conditioning device, mutual interference between the twosystems is avoided.

Other advantageous constructions can be taken from the subordinateclaims.

FIGURES

The following description deals with possibilities for configuration ofthe invention. These designs are to be understood as only examples, andreference is made to:

FIG. 1, top view of an air-conditioning device with adjuster

FIG. 2, longitudinal section through the arrangement of FIG. 1

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A body support device is understood below to include, in particular, anyfurniture for sitting and/or resting and all devices offering support toa person while standing, sitting, or lying down in vehicles.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a functional module according to the invention. Adevice 100 for guiding air for air conditioning a body support devicehas a carrier layer 1. This is manufactured from an air-permeablematerial. In the embodiment, it is formed at least partially by anon-woven material. It is designed for overlay on a foam core of acushion, especially of a vehicle seat.

On the side of the carrier layer 1 facing a contact zone 20 and a userthere are heating conductors 11 of an electrical heating element. Theyare arranged essentially over the entire surface of the carrier layer 1.They can be produced from metal and/or from electrically conductiveplastics, e.g., carbon.

An air-guiding layer 2 is arranged on the side of the carrier layer 1facing away from the contact surface 20. The air-guiding layer 2 can beformed, e.g., from a spacing fabric. In the present example, it isformed from a plurality of spirals extending longitudinally in the guidelayer. It has a sufficient cross section of, e.g., one centimeter, toprovide a sufficient amount of air to the contact surface 20. Thedimensions of its basic surface are somewhat smaller than that of thecarrier layer 1. It is therefore guaranteed that when the air-guidinglayer 1 is inserted into a corresponding recess of a seat cushion, thereis no detectable unevenness at the edges.

The air-guiding layer 2 is essentially completely covered by a wall 25.This is formed in the embodiment from a polyurethane film that is notpermeable to air. The wall 25 essentially completely covers theair-guiding layer 2. It is connected—in the embodiment, adhered-to thecarrier layer in its edge region.

The wall 25 has a recess connected to an air-feeding device 4. Thisair-feeding device 4 is formed in the present embodiment by a fan 14,which is fixed indirectly or directly to the air-guiding layer 2 and/orto the wall 25. It can also be formed, however, by a tube or asnorkel-like extension of the wall 25, which is connected, e.g., to adistant fan or an on-board air-conditioning system.

At least one adjusting device 7 is provided on the wall 25. Thisadjusting device 7 has a volume body 27 whose volume is variable. In thepresent example, the volume body 27 is formed from a bladder 17. Thisbladder 17 is preferably formed from material that is not permeable toair. In the present embodiment, the bladder is also formed frompolyurethane film. A part of the bladder wall 30 is here formed by thewall 25 of the air-guiding layer 2.

The volume body 27 preferably has an elongated construction and runsperpendicular to the expected position of the spinal column of a user.It is preferably constructed thicker at its ends. In the area of itscenter, in the vicinity of the spinal column, it has a narrowerconstruction. The volume body 27 is connected to a fluid supply deviceand/or an outlet valve via a fluid line 8.

For the shown case that several volume bodies 27 are provided, aplurality of fluid lines 8 is also required if the volume body 27 is tobe individually adjustable. Because the fan 14 also requires an electricsupply line 5, it is preferable to guide the fluid lines 8 and thesupply line 5 within the air-guiding layer 2. In order to not interferewith the air-distributing function of the air-guiding layer 2, it ispreferable to guide it along the edge of the air-guiding layer 2.

During operation, an air stream 9 is blown into the air-guiding layer 2via the fan 14 for air conditioning. There it is distributed along thecarrier layer 1, and is then blown out through this layer and throughthe heating element to the user.

For adjusting the seat contours according to the desires of the userand/or for massaging, the bladders 17 are filled via the fluid lines 8with a corresponding amount of fluid. In this way, the bladder 17expands or contracts accordingly. Thus, the contact zone 20 ispositioned or moved accordingly.

1-7. (canceled)
 8. A ventilated seat comprising: a body support devicefor a vehicle seat; a ventilation device placed over the body supportdevice, the ventilation device including: an air-permeable carrierlayer, an air-impermeable layer attached to the air-permeable carrierlayer, and an air-guiding layer located between the air-permeablecarrier layer and the air-impermeable layer, wherein the ventilationdevice is configured to receive air from an air-feeding device and guidethe air through the air-permeable carrier layer; and at least oneadjusting device located between the ventilation device and the bodysupport device, the at least one adjusting device including aninflatable bladder to deflect the ventilation device away, towards, orboth away and towards the body support device.
 9. The ventilated seat ofclaim 8, wherein the body support device comprises a vehicle seatcushion.
 10. The ventilated seat of claim 8, wherein the air-permeablecarrier layer is formed at least in part by a non-woven material. 11.The ventilated seat of claim 8, wherein the air-impermeable layer isformed of a polyurethane film.
 12. The ventilated seat of claim 11,wherein the air-impermeable layer is adhered to the air-permeable layerat an outer edge of the air-impermeable layer to completely cover theair-guiding layer.
 13. The ventilated seat of claim 8, wherein theair-impermeable layer is connected directly to the air-feeding device.14. The ventilated seat of claim 13, wherein the air-feeding device isat least partially disposed within a recess of the body support device.15. The ventilated seat of claim 8, wherein the air-impermeable layer isconnected to the air-feeding device through a tube.
 16. The ventilatedseat of claim 8, wherein the air-guiding layer is formed of a spacingfabric.
 17. The ventilated seat of claim 8, wherein the at least oneadjusting device is attached to the ventilation device.
 18. Theventilated seat of claim 17, wherein the inflatable bladder is formed atleast in part by the air-impermeable layer and is formed of anair-impermeable material.
 19. The ventilated seat of claim 8, whereinthe ventilated seat includes a plurality of adjusting devices having alength and a width.
 20. The ventilated seat of claim 19, wherein thelength of the plurality of adjusting devices extends along a width ofthe body support device that is perpendicular to an expected position ofa user's spinal column.
 21. The ventilated seat of claim 19, wherein thewidth of the plurality of adjusting devices is greater at end portionsof the plurality of adjusting devices as opposed to a middle portion ofthe plurality of adjusting devices.
 22. The ventilated seat of claim 8,wherein the at least one adjusting device is attached to at least onefluid supply line for pneumatically inflating the inflatable bladder andthe at least one fluid supply line includes a valve for controlling airflow to and from the inflatable bladders.
 23. The ventilated seat ofclaim 8, further comprising a heater located adjacent the air-permeablecarrier layer and on a side of the air-permeable carrier layer oppositethe air-guiding layer.
 24. A ventilated seat comprising: a body supportdevice for a vehicle seat; an air-permeable carrier layer located overthe body support device, an air-guiding layer located between theair-permeable carrier layer and the body support device, wherein theair-guiding layer is located in a recess formed in the body supportdevice and directly attached to the air feeding device and wherein theair-guiding layer is configured to receive air from an air-feedingdevice and guide the air through the air-permeable carrier layer; and atleast one adjusting device located between the air-guiding layer and thebody support device, the at least one adjusting device including aninflatable bladder to deflect the ventilation device away, towards, orboth away and towards the body support device.
 25. The ventilated seatof claim 24, wherein the air-guiding layer includes an air-impermeablematerial comprising a polyurethane film.
 26. The ventilated seat ofclaim 25, wherein the air-feeding device is at least partially disposedwithin a recess of the body support device.
 27. A ventilated seatcomprising: a body support device for a vehicle seat cushion; aventilation device placed over the body support device, the ventilationdevice including: an air-permeable carrier layer formed of a spacingfabric, an air-impermeable layer adhered to the air-permeable carrierlayer at an outer edge of the air-impermeable layer and including anopening for receiving an air flow, and an air-guiding layer locatedbetween the air-permeable carrier layer and the air-impermeable layer;at least one adjusting device located between the ventilation device andthe body support device, the at least one adjusting device beingattached to the ventilation device and including an inflatable bladderto deflect the ventilation device away, towards, or both away andtowards the body support device, the inflatable bladder being formed atleast in part by the air-impermeable layer and is attached to at leastone fluid supply line for pneumatically inflating the inflatablebladder, the at least one fluid supply line includes a valve forcontrolling air flow to and from the inflatable bladders; a heaterlocated adjacent the air-permeable carrier layer and on a side of theair-permeable carrier layer opposite the air-guiding layer; and an airfeeding device in fluid communication with the ventilation devicethrough the opening formed in the air-impermeable layer.